GS IMPACT: AMC Orders Action After 48 City Tanks Miss Cleaning Deadline

Ahmedabad: Following revelations that nearly 50 major water storage tanks serving the city's population went uncleaned past their mandatory six-month deadline, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has ordered a probe into contractor negligence and supervisory lapses. Standing Committee Chairman Kamlesh Patel issued instructions to penalize the responsible cleaning agency and investigate officials tasked with overseeing the maintenance of the city's drinking water infrastructure.

The civic body's action comes after a Gujarat Samachar Digital report highlighted delays in maintaining tanks supplying drinking water to over 80 lakh residents across Ahmedabad. Out of 244 municipal water tanks in the city, 196 were cleaned within the prescribed six-month window, but 48 tanks missed the deadline entirely. The delay has raised serious questions over contractor accountability, monitoring by civic engineers, and potential public health risks.

Contractor Penalty and Officer Probe Ordered

Addressing the lapse, Standing Committee Chairman Kamlesh Patel confirmed that strict measures would be enforced against the contracted agency responsible for tank maintenance.

"Out of 244 tanks in the city, 196 have been cleaned within the six-month period. However, cleaning for 48 tanks was not completed within the stipulated timeline," Patel said. He added that instructions have been issued to penalize the agency and determine the role of officers responsible for supervising the work.

Key administrative decisions taken during the Standing Committee meeting:

• Water Tank Probe: Strict action ordered against the private contractor; role of supervising AMC officers to be investigated.
• Green Energy Push: AMC currently draws 28% of its electricity from solar and wind power. The target is to raise this to 44% by December, aiming for 100% green energy reliance by 2028.
• Kankaria Birdwatching Initiative: Approval granted for 'Wings Over Kankaria' project. The corporation will purchase binoculars, and Kankaria Zoo staff will guide visitors during two-hour morning and evening slots to observe migratory birds.
• Dussehra Food Inspections: AMC Food Department instructed to inspect stalls selling fafda and jalebi on Dussehra for quality control and ensure no illegal encroachment on footpaths.

Focus Turns to Pending Cleaning Operations

Clean drinking water distribution remains a critical service for the municipal corporation. The failure to clean 48 tanks on schedule has drawn scrutiny over AMC's operational planning and oversight mechanisms.

Civic authorities are expected to fast-track the pending cleaning operations across the remaining 48 locations while the internal inquiry establishes responsibility for the delay.

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